Studio Fitness Victoria

Thank you for all the wonderful letters...like the one below... to let me know how you are and how we all make a really great team. Miss the great class vibe but am very happy we have zoom to make classes happen and you still get the great results you come for.

A Master in the art of living Draws no sharp distinction Between his work and his play His labour and his leisure His mind and his body... His education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which He simply pursues his vision Of excellence through whatever He is doing and leaves others To determine whether He is working or playing. To himself he always seems To be doing both. Francoise Rene Auguste Chateaubriand

This is what the Barre Stretches looked like when I was choreographing alone...but the music would carry me away. Gotta reign it in for classes ;)

Theo's Restaurant in Penticton BC was gorgeous to be in whether it be for food or hosting a live Zoom class. You can't forget a place like this. Greg the owner was gracious enough to allow me to film a live Aging Backwards class early one morning before the staff came in. Hope to be back for a Bellydance video, to see the finished bar mural, and to have a taste of the Nutty Greek aperitif. #agingbackwards #studiofitnessvictoria #stretchgirl #theosgreekrestaurant #visitpenticton

Outdoor class challenges: Week 1 - sunburn Week 2 - hanging green worms Week 3 - distracted by seals Week 4 - BEAR!!... But all was good as we stretched in the beautiful indoor courtyard at Queen Alexandra on Friday. Indoor classes Tuesdays at the beautiful and spacious McCalls Sequoia Center 10am.

3 ways to find a deeper connection (AND protect your neck) while doing your situps: It is a common action to tense up in the shoulders as you execute a situp but it is a bad habit that weakens the neck. To improve your performance and achieve better results, think of lengthening your neck toward the mat by gently engaging the front muscles of the neck. There should be no strain while doing this and would be a good habit when sitting or standing too. Keep this feeling and cont...rol of the neck as you do the sit up. When you can no longer maintain that type of control, let your head rest but you will notice the more you allow the kink in your neck, the more discomfort you will incur. A more extreme version of this but gives a stronger feeling of the muscles you are trying to activate: Lie on your bed with your head hanging off the edge. Slowly lift your head up until your neck is in line with your torso. Hold for 10 seconds, then lower slowly back towards the floor. Rest for 10 seconds and repeat 2 times. This should be felt in the front muscles of the neck. Another mistake is thinking the higher you roll up, the more abs you are using. If you can't flatten the belly, you will create a stomach that appears 'poochy'. Do a crunch only as high as you can feel your shoulder blade tips slide down toward the back of your waist and press into the floor. Don't mistake that with squeezing the shoulder blades together - you would like them to pull wide which will make you feel your side waist muscles more, flatten your belly and engage more lower abdominals. Finally, keep your hips/pelvis/base of the spine heavy and pressed to the ground the entire time. When one part of the body is anchored well, other parts can move with more ease and freedom. This is a healthy neuromuscular pattern to develop and trains grace into your movement, along with strength. These may be difficult to do at first, but it is well worth the effort in reaching your goals and eliminating neck problems. The added benefit will reduce turkey neck! https://twitter.com/oceana/status/1258432152049516545?s=20

I miss Bungee classes and the huge, bouncy swing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phELteKvvro&feature=youtu.be